MISTAKEN PROCEDURE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 144, 19 June 1915, Page 4

MISTAKEN PROCEDURE

A resolution adopted by the Patriotic Society at a late hour last night — at the conclusion of miscellaneous business • — denounces as an' "outrage upon Bri-" tish feeling and sentiment" the action of the Victoria College Council in retaining the services of Professor yon Zedlit!; (who is not naturalised), and "calls upon the Government to take such action as is necessary to prevent public moneys being used for the payment of alien subjects." The intention of the aehobiiipa^in. ..patriotic, of comaa, turt

the society's hasty judgment is not juat to the Victoria College Council, nor to the professors and students who have given evidence in favour of Professor yon Ze^iSz. It is manifestly absurd to hui\*the vague word "outrage" at responsible citizens who constitute the Council. Such an impetuous abuse of epithets inevitably makes for mischief and bitterness of feeling. We wish to have a fair British hearing of the Zedlitz case, in a public place. Some folk are condemning the Professor out of hand, and, unwittingly no doubt, insulting those who believe that they have acted strictly in accordance with the traditions and principles of British fairness. Those critics seem to overlook or brush aside the fact that the object of their wrath has an English mother, that he left Germany when he was fourteen years of age, and that he has worked as a friend among British people ever since. However, The Post does not propose to pre-judge a case which is open to argument, without hate or intemperance of speech. If numbers of citizens have an opinion that the Victoria College Council, the professors, the students, and the Minister of Justice have committed an error of judgment, there is a proper method of expressing such a belief. A deputation should request the Mayor to convene a public meeting, not for the deliberate purpose of exciting indignation, passion, or ill-feeling, but for the fair discussion of a case on which patriots have differed.